Price information tag

ABSTRACT

A method of printing price information tags and signs includes providing a digital press, a data management system with computer hardware connected for internet access, a database of stored/archived information, and a supply of sheets having a suitable stiffness and surface quality for use as price information tags and signs. Updated information is received electronically via the internet, and combined with selected elements from the stored/archived information to generate customized tag data, which is communicated through a data flow balancer to the digital press(es) to print customized price information tags. The tags are cut to size and include attachment barbs. The customized tag data is arranged to print tags in a series corresponding to product arrangement on particular store shelves. The customized price information tags can be printed and shipped on a just-in-time basis and in a predetermined sequence within at least 24 hours of receiving the real-time digital information.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/612,821filed Dec. 19, 2006, entitled METHOD OF PRINTING, DISTRIBUTING ANDPLACING PRICE INFORMATION, which in turn claims benefit of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/793,170 filed Apr. 19, 2006, entitled METHOD OFPRINTING AND DISTRIBUTING PRICE INFORMATION TAGS under 35 U.S.C.§119(e), the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to price information tags attached toshelves under (or over) the products being sold and to other informationassociated with products for sale. The present tags are particularlyattractive due to the multi-color and high resolution of the digitalpresses that print them and further have features supportingmulti-function and flexible/efficient use.

Recently, some stores have begun using a newly-developed extrudedprice-tag holder attached to a front of in-store shelves. One knownextruded price-tag holder (described later in the present disclosure)includes a clear front panel connected along a bottom to a co-extrudedopaque rear panel. The front and rear panels define an open-top slot forreceiving a “main” price tag, visible through the clear front panel. Theclear front panel further includes a frictional three-point slip-fit topattachment system defined by alternating fingers or ridges that allow a“supplemental” price tag to be slipped upwardly into frictionalengagement and retained by friction along a top ⅛^(th) inch of thesupplemental price tag. By this arrangement, a supplemental price tagindicating an “in-store special” can be overlaid on the main price tag,without having to remove the main price tag. The arrangement isadvantageous since it allows supplemental price tags to be quicklyinserted with a simple upward motion, and also quickly removed by aquick downward pull.

However, the three-point slip-fit attachment system of this extrudedprice tag holder sometimes does not create enough friction to retain thesupplemental price tag, which results in the supplemental price tagsbeing knocked out of position toward a side (such as being knocked to anangled position) or results in the supplemental price tags fallingcompletely off the price tag holder. For example, inadequate frictionmay be caused by wear on the flanges that form the three-point slip-fitretention system. Also inadequate friction may be caused by the extrudedflanges being longitudinally warped or “wavy,” which is a fundamentalprocessing problem that often occurs in extrusions due to the extrusionprocess. This longitudinally warped condition may occur in extrusions asoriginally manufactured, or may occur over time as the extrusion“creeps” and changes shape over time. For whatever reason, therelationship of the tips of the three flanges intended to cause thefrictional retention may vary, resulting in the three flanges in atleast some areas not creating sufficient friction on an inserted pricetag. An improvement is desired in a price tag so that the price tag willpositively and securely engage this three-point attachment system, evenif the three flanges are distorted out of their friction-causingpositions. However, the improvement must preferably still allow theprice tag to be pulled out of the extruded price tag holder withoutdamage to the extruded price-tag holder.

Consumers (as well as consumer protection laws) require accurateinformation about products being displayed on store shelves. Priceinformation (such as a price change) placed on a shelf “too soon” or“too late” causes considerable consumer dissatisfaction (e.g.,out-of-stocks or “mis-stocks”) and/or causes significant in-storeconfusion or delays (e.g., price checks), as well as concern fromregulatory agencies. However, getting tags onto shelves is asurprisingly complex and difficult task for a number of reasons. Forexample, buyers may be negotiating on supplier prices right up to thelast possible minute, such that prices and even product availability maybe uncertain until the “last possible minute.” Product availability anddelivery concerns may also cause uncertainty right up to the lastpossible minute. Management often wants to make product pricingdecisions as close as possible to the “on sale” date so thatuncertainties about future product availability and consumer purchasingtrends and other price-related strategies can be incorporated into thepricing decisions. Thus, a system is desired allowing retail prices tobe set as late as possible to allow optimal (last minute) control overretail pricing . . . and further a system is desired giving greatercontrol to the retail store management late in the printing process.

Aside from timing issues noted above, information management is verydifficult. Large stores now carry hundreds of thousands of products, andthe logistics of getting timely-printed price information tags inappropriate places on store shelves is a time-consuming,highly-manually-intensive task. An amazing amount of time is spentinefficiently walking from one shelf to another, and from one end of ashelf to another end, as price information tags are attached to shelvesunder associated product. Further, this often leads to errors, such astags being put under the wrong product, or tags simply not being put upat all. Further, attachment of the tags must be secure and long-lasting,yet inexpensive and easily engaged. Thus, a system is desired allowingtags to be securely attached, with minimal risk of mis-location, withsecure but low-cost attachment systems. Further, it is preferable that aparticular tag be able to be attached in multiple ways, given that manystores have different attachment mechanisms on their shelves.

Recent studies show that product sales can potentially be increased ifthe price information tags have high-quality product pictures and coloron them. However, this adds greatly to the cost and lead times requiredfor printing the price information tags. Specifically, in order forpictures to be placed on tags, the data for the pictures must becombined with price information, arranged for printing, and thenprinted. This greatly complicates printing of price information tags,since it compounds problems associated with getting accurate priceinformation onto the tags, with getting accurate pictures onto the tags.Also, the quality of the pictures is very important, since poorphotographs will potentially result in the consumer implying poorquality to the store and/or to the products being sold.

Some stores have attempted to reduce the lead time for providing priceinformation tags by having in-store printing capabilities. However, itis difficult to control the quality of in-store printing for manyreasons. High-quality printing equipment is expensive, and it is oftennot cost-justified to purchase a high-quality machine for each ofseveral different stores. Further, the ability to produce high qualitypictures is closely related to skilled machine operators and goodquality printing materials and maintenance of the printing machine.Thus, it is difficult to control the quality of on-site printingmachinery over time.

Digital presses are relatively new machines, and are capable ofproducing extremely high-quality pictures at high speeds. Software doesexist for managing work flow and information to the digital presses. Forexample, see Wiechers patent application publications 2005/0030557 A1and 2005/0043848 A1. However, to the present inventor's knowledge, theadvantages and abilities of digital presses have not been used in theenvironment of price information tags and displays, where customizedreal-time information is used in conjunction with attachment technologyto form tags and displays having particular structure facilitating theiruse in a just-in-time manner to optimize their value to a retail store.

Thus, a system and method having the aforementioned advantages andsolving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a price information tag isconfigured for attachment to a tag holder on a store shelf, where thetag holder includes opposing members defining a frictional retentionarea and a throat leading to the frictional retention area and a spacebehind the frictional retention area. The price information tag includesa tag body formed from a flat sheet of material with price informationprinted thereon relevant to a product for sale, and further includes afolded flange along a top of the sheet that is doubled back onto thesheet and adapted to create secure attachment when the folded flange andthe top of the tag body is slipped into the throat into the frictionalretention area, with a portion extending reversely into the spacetherebehind.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a price information tagis provided and configured for attachment to a tag holder on a storeshelf, where the tag holder includes a place for receiving andsupporting a main price tag and further includes a transparent frontpanel for viewing information printed on the main price tag, and stillfurther includes opposing members at a top of the transparent frontpanel and defining a frictional retention area and a throat leading tothe frictional retention area and a space beyond the frictionalretention area. The price information tag includes a tag body formedfrom a flat sheet of material with price information printed thereonrelevant to a product for sale, a top of the tag body defining an openarea. A clear plastic panel is attached to the tag body and covers theopen area, so that when the tag body is attached to the holder, theprice information printed on the tag body is visible but also the priceinformation on the main price tag remains visible.

In another aspect of the present invention, a price information tagsystem for attachment to a shelf-attached channel with upper and loweredges, comprises a tag sheet with printed information and indiciathereon, a clear plastic sheet having a transparency for seeingtherethrough, and at least one of the tag sheet and clear plastic sheethaving upper and lower barbs for retainingly engaging the upper andlower edges of the channel for holding the tag sheet and the clearplastic sheet together on the channel in overlaid positions

In still another aspect of the present invention, a price informationtag system for attachment to a shelf, includes a shelf-attached channelwith upper and lower edges, a first price tag positioned in the channeland engaging at least the upper edges of the channel, the price taghaving printed information and indicia thereon, and a second tagcomprising a clear plastic sheet, the second tag also engaging at leastthe upper edge of the channel and positioned over the first price tagwith the information and indicia being visible through the second tag.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a typical system in prior art forprinting price information tags.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a new inventive system for producingprice information tags using a digital press.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a data management system with internetconnection for receipt of information from store employees, and showingmanagement of data to the digital presses.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing details of the data management system.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing details of an exemplary system actuallyused in a test situation/pilot project.

FIGS. 5A-5C are flow charts disclosing a high speed sign productionsystem using internet, digital press printing, and coordinationsoftware, FIG. 5A showing data flow, FIG. 5B showing server operations,and FIG. 5C showing hardware and hardware interconnection.

FIG. 5D is a flow chart similar to FIG. 5B but showing amodified/simplified sign production system.

FIGS. 6-7 are two sheets with price information tags printed thereon.

FIGS. 8-9 are front and side views of a particular price informationtag.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a pair of store shelves with priceinformation tags thereon.

FIGS. 11-12 are perspective and side views of an alternative priceinformation tag.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing three different attachment schemessupported by the tag shown in FIGS. 12-13.

FIGS. 14-15 are plan and side views of a price information tag,including novel attachment structure.

FIGS. 16-16A are enlarged fragmentary views of a top of the price tagshown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a prior art extruded price-tag holder forattachment to a front of an in-store shelf for supporting products forsale in the store.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the holder from FIG. 17 supporting the novelprice tag of FIGS. 14-16, FIG. 18A being an enlarged view of a top ofthe extruded holder.

FIG. 19 is a side view of the extruded holder in FIG. 18 and including abase price tag positioned within the extruded holder and with thesupplemental price tag from FIG. 15 attached to the extruded holder.

FIGS. 20-21 are plan and side views of a windowed price tag.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the extruded holder in FIG. 18 and including abase price tag positioned within the extruded holder and with thesupplemental windowed price tag from FIG. 21 attached to the extrudedholder, FIG. 22A being an enlarged view of a top of the price tag.

FIGS. 23-24 are a perspective and an enlarged side view of the windowedprice information tag of FIG. 20 attached to a store shelf front in aposition overlaid on a “main” price information tag.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In some stores, point-of-purchase signs and shelf tags are printed inblack, such as by using laser printers located in the stores. Storeemployees manipulate pre-determined print batches using web-basedsoftware, load pre-printed perforated shells (e.g. stock paper withpre-printed information thereon), print, separate, and then place thesigns in their stores on a daily and weekly basis. (See FIG. 1.)Notably, a major part of the activity occurs “in-store.” This systemrequires significant pre-printed inventory, multiple black laserprinters, on-site personnel for operating the printers, and isrelatively labor intensive. This prior art system typically cannotproduce extremely high-quality color pictures due to inherentlimitations of the laser equipment, poor maintenance of the printingequipment and/or overuse of spent toner cartridges, etc.

A prior art extruded price tag holder 150 (FIG. 17) has recently beendeveloped for attachment to a front of in-store shelves 151. Theextruded price tag holder 150 includes a front half made of clearmaterial including clear front panel 152 and flanges 159-162. The frontpanel 152 is connected along a bottom 153 to a co-extruded opaque rearhalf including a rear panel 154, stem 154A and attachment flange 154B.The front and rear panels 152 and 154 define an open-top slot 155 withtop throat 155A for receiving a “main” price tag 156, visible throughthe clear front panel 152. A shelf-attached panel 156B extends parallelback panel 156 and is connected to it by a spacer stem 156A. The clearfront panel 152 further includes a frictional three-point slip-fit topattachment system 158 that includes a downwardly open front throat 158Adefined by a hood flange 159 and alternating fingers 160, 161 and 162.The fingers 160-162 allow a flat “supplemental” price tag 163 to beslipped upwardly into the throat 158A into frictional engagement suchthat it is (presumably) retained by friction along a top ¼ inch of thesupplemental price tag 163. By this arrangement, a supplemental pricetag 163 indicating an “in-store special” can be overlaid on the mainprice tag 156, without having to remove the main price tag 156. Thesupplemental price tags now used are flat sheets. The arrangement isadvantageous since it allows the supplemental price tags to be quicklyinserted with a simple upward motion, and also quickly removed by aquick downward pull. However, there are problems associated withmaintaining a relationship of the three-point attachment system offingers 160, 161 and 162, such that price tags 163 (which are flatsheets) may be knocked out of position or simply fall out due to poorfrictional engagement. This is unacceptable and problematic, eitherearly in the life of the holder 150 and especially with wear and passageof time on the holder 150.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present inventive method of printing customized price informationtags includes providing: a digital press capable of printing very highresolution multi-color pictures/photographs/graphics at high speed; adata management system with computer hardware connected for internetaccess; a database of stored information such as pictures, photographs,and symbols; and a supply of sheets having a suitable stiffness (i.e.,that resist folding, bending, and wrinkling, and that are durable forgood long term appearance) and having a high surface quality (i.e., thatprovide good appearance of digitally printed fonts and pictures) for useas price information tags attached to a store shelf. Updated informationis received electronically via the internet, and combined with selectedelements from the stored information using a data management system togenerate customized tag data, which is communicated to the digital pressto print customized multi-color price information tags and displays. Thetags are cut to size and cut to include integral attachment tabs/barbs.The customized tag data is arranged to print tags in a seriescorresponding to product arrangement (i.e., “plan-o-gram” arrangement)of particular store shelves. The customized price information tags canbe printed, cut and shipped on a just-in-time basis and in apredetermined sequence within just a very few hours, such as within 24hours of receiving the “real-time” digital information off the internet.

FIG. 2 shows a system embodying the present invention, where box 100illustrates a site with store employees (such as buyers or decisionmakers at a corporate headquarters) input price information/basic tagdata via an internet connection 101 to a printer company/site 102 withdigital presses. The printer company also has (or has access to) adatabase 103 of pictures, photographs, symbols, and images; and combinesthe tag information from the store employees to generate customizedprice information tags 15 (or displays) on a just-in-time basis. Thehigh-resolution tags 15 and/or signs are delivered daily to thedifferent retail store locations. The management of data is controlledby a web software 104 based on an industry standard, such as by usingAccessVia™ software, HP Yours Truly™ software, Printable Technologies™software or XMPIE™ software. The software 104 is commercially availableand the industry standards for communication are known in the art bythose skilled in this art, such that they do not need to be described indetail in this application for an understanding of the present inventiveconcepts.

FIG. 3 shows additional detail of the data management software, whichincludes the internet connection 101, a “sign request” form 105 forfiling out by the end user, an administrator user 106′ havingtemplates/rules for managing the data and a background control softwaresuch as by using the web software 104. The manipulated “massaged”customized tag data is routed to the digital press(es) 106 and throughin-house control systems for maintaining a particular sequential orderof the price information tags 15. The tags 15 are cut to shape,packaged, and shipped to individual retail store locations in quantitiesas ordered. Notably, it is contemplated that any digital press couldwork in the present system, and that digital presses are commerciallyavailable, such as HP Indigo™ digital presses, and Xerox I-Gen digitalpresses.

FIG. 4 shows additional details of the software management tool,including its design and assembly stage 108 and its publishing stage109. The design and assembly stage 108 includes steps such as templateauthoring, content management, template management, event construction,staging and proofing, as well as integration of various elements such asstored data, timing, customer and event controls. The publishing stage109 includes a publishing engine that permits viewing as a display priorto viewing as a printed product.

FIG. 5 discloses the system components working in and around the systemdatabase, including inputs and outputs to the basic system. Inparticular, input comes from a file-transfer-protocol web site at theprint site 102 as ASCII data, and is manipulated and then fed to thesoftware 104. The software 104 accesses a sign data manager and imagedata to generate customized tag data based on an authorizing software,generating a PDF image data (i.e., customized price information tagdata) which is fed to the digital press.

FIG. 5A shows a high speed sign (and tag) production apparatus andsystem capable of receiving and assembling data from archived andinternet-received and other data sources, and capable of providing sameto digital presses to create on a very short turn-around basis a varietyof high quality printed signs and price information tags and otherdisplay products. The apparatus is highly automated, and capable ofprovided printed signs and tags potentially in less than 30 minutes ofreceiving data input from a customer, and more preferably as low aswithin 8 minutes of receiving data input through the internet by aclient company. The illustration of FIG. 5A shows both data flow andinter-relationship/interaction of components. A customer archivaltool/software 270 is maintained on a SQL server 272 (SQL means standardquery language), and allows for quality analysis (QA) such as high speedtroubleshooting and data analysis, and includes digital datatransmission software (DTS). The archival software 270 generates anupdate query 271 for updating an item library of information in a mainSQL server 272. The main SQL server 272 is run by commercially availabledatabase control/manager software 273, includes a database server 272A,multiple web/print servers 272B, and distiller workstations 272C.Notably, these components can be added via simple edits to the managersoftware 273, and do not require a major re-design or reconfiguration ofthe interconnected system, such that the present system is “scalable”.(In other words, components can be added on a modular basis, and theapparatus/system does not require major redesign for each expansion andincrease in system capability.) Sign data manager software 273 (such asAccessVia.db) controls the main SQL server 272 and imports and profilesincoming data, converts it to an acceptable format, creates collatedbatches, and generates reports via the main SQL server 272. The signdata manager software 273 manages customer images 274 and proprietaryimages 274′ in creating the collated batches and reports. The managersoftware 273 inputs arranged data to web-interface software 275, whichin turn generates pdf files 276 that are communicated to the productflow control hardware 277 and to the digital presses 278 and 279.

FIG. 5B illustrates the automated operation of the SQL server 272 andthe related software. The main SQL server 272 is controlled via anadministration station 280 to generate manual reports 281 and automaticreports 282. The main SQL server 272 inputs data to a data load balancer296 (see FIG. 5C), which balances data flow by automatically creating aweb interface and printing data “stream” 278′ and 279′ for respectiveautomatic distillers 278 and 279, which in turn transfer the data“streams” in file transfer steps 286 and 287 to the product flow controlhardware and software 277 and to the digital presses 278 and 279. It isnoted that balancers are known in the computer industry and are used inlarge data processing systems, such that a more detailed explanation isnot required.

FIG. 5C shows the hardware and inter-connection of items in FIGS. 5A and5B. A file transfer protocol (FTP) server 290 inputs data received atthe FTP web site from the internet and makes it available on theinternal intranet 291. Designer workstations with PCs 292 are connectedto the intranet 291 and programmed with commercially available software.Also operably connected are a staging server 293, a staging databaseserver 294, a production database server 295, a load balancer 296,production distiller workstations 297, and an SQL database server 298.The load balancer 296 is operably connected to web/print servers 299 andto digital presses 278-279. Notably, the present system is scalablewithout major reconfiguration nor system adaptation. In other words, thepresent system can be increased in size and capability relatively easilyand without major system redesign by adding additional designerworkstations, production distiller workstations, and additionalweb/print servers.

The apparatus and system of FIGS. 5A-5C are relatively automated. Amodified system (FIG. 5D) is contemplated. The appearance and system ofFIG. 5D is similar to that of FIG. 5B, but the modified system does notinclude a balancer, nor an automatic SQL server. Further, the WEB I/Fand printing step, the distilling step, and the file transfer steps aremanual. Notably, components 280A, 278A, 278A′, 279A, 279A′, 286A, 287A,and 277A in FIG. 5D are similar in function and arrangement tocomponents 280, 278, 278′, 279, 279′, 286, 287, and 277 in FIG. 5B, butin FIG. 5D they are programmed for manual operation. This system isstill considered to be a high speed sign (and tag) production system. Byway of comparison to the system of 5B, this system's capability (i.e.,the system of FIG. 5D) can provide printed signs (and price informationtags) from a digital press within about 30 minutes of receiving datainput through the internet by a client company. The illustration showsboth data flow and inter-relationship/interaction of components.

FIGS. 6-7 show two different sheets with customized price informationtags 15 printed thereon. Notably, the printed tags are each differentfrom each other. Several tags include very high quality/high resolutionprinting and pictures/photographs/symbols printed in multiple colors.They are arranged to be cut into individual price information tags, FIG.6 having nine tags (each about 3″×5″), FIG. 7 having 10 tags (each about2″×3.5″). The two sheets can be printed immediately after each other.The tags each include an eye-catcher section, such as “SAVE $1” or“sale,” and also each include price information and product information.Several of the tags also include the above-noted high qualityphotographs of the product. Where desired, attachment structure is cutinto the tags 15 (such as by forming top and/or bottom barbs or tabs,see FIG. 8-9) and/or adhesive or other attachment structure (see tags20, FIG. 12). The tags 15 are preferably printed in order so that theyare sequentially ordered to match a particular store product arrangement(“plan-o-gram”) on store shelves.

FIGS. 8-9 show a particular price information tag. The illustrated tag15 is made from a sheet of 4 mm thick rigid PVC plastic material.However, the tag 15 can be made from another material of sufficientstiffness to form attachment barbs, such as 80# to 100# paper, cardboardor laminate). The sheet material is sufficiently stiff to besnappingly-attached (i.e., using the flexible attachment barbs) forattachment to a shelf-mounted channel (see FIGS. 10 and 13), with theintegrally formed attachment barbs 16 and 17 engaging tops and bottomsof the channel. The illustrated top barb or tab 16 is elongated. Theillustrated bottom barbs 17 are triangularly shaped with a flexiblepoint 18. The barbs 17 are spaced apart to form with top barb 16 athree-point attachment matrix that stably engages a shelf-mountedchannel (11).

FIG. 10 shows a tag 15 (similar to the tag shown in FIGS. 8-9)configured to attach to a channel 11 (also called a “holder” or“bracket”) on a shelf 10. The tag 15 (FIGS. 11-12) is sheet of 4 mmthick rigid PVC plastic material 21 cut to size. A plurality of hooks ortabs 22 (three being shown) are die-cut into the blank 21. Adhesive 23is placed along a top portion of the tab if desired. Indicia 24 areprinted on a front surface of the tag. The top edge of the tag 15 can belinear or have protrusions (see the tag in FIGS. 8-9).

The present tag 15 can be attached in three different ways as shown inFIG. 13. In the first way, the tag 15 includes a top edge 25 tuckedinside a top groove in the channel 11 and the tabs 22 are pushed to snapinto the bottom groove in the channel 11. The attachment is extremelyquick. The tag is very simple, with no additional attachment structurerequired (which provides significant cost savings for those storeshaving shelf-mounted channels 11). Also, the attachment is very secure.In the second attachment method, a different channel 12 is attached to aface of the shelf 10. The channel 12 includes a finger-like front tab 13forming a friction abutment with a back surface of the channel 12. Thetop edge 25 of the tag 15 slips under the friction member for retention.In the third method, the tag 15 includes the adhesive 23 which isadhered directly to a front surface of the shelf 10, thus eliminatingthe need for a channel. It is contemplated that the tag 15 can includeall three of the above-mentioned attachment structures or can includejust one or two, or can include other known attachment structure such asholes, apertures, and/or various arrangements of attachment tabs.

By the above system, the inventor's study showed that an existing knowncompany could cut printing costs by over one million dollars per year.Further, employee productivity is improved considerably, such as 40% formany employees, both when setting/hanging tags, and also forproductivity in general manpower for managing/handling/printing tags.Also, the need for pre-printed stock is substantially eliminated. Stillfurther, in-store errors are reduced, due to the use of sequentiallyarranged price information tags as supplied to the individual retailoutlet stores. Problems associated with out-of-stock items are reduced,due to the shortened lead times required for supplying the presentcustomized price information tags. Also, “false fronts” andmis-information is reduced or eliminated. Also, there are faster“resets,” where old tags are replaced with new updated price informationtags, such as up to 40% faster resets where sequentially arranged priceinformation tags are supplied. There is expected to be a considerablyfaster stocking, with substantial reduction in mis-stocks andmis-information on stocked items. Also, the present system will greatlyreduce the need for consumer price checks and will greatly improvecorrect posting of product-to-price identification. Still further, highquality multi-color photographs and color images are on the priceinformation tags, resulting in higher sales volumes based on consumerattraction to the signage (based on recent marketing studies). Therewill be improved quality over B&W toner commonly used in black laserprinters, and improved paper quality due to the printing capabilities ofthe digital presses. There is a reduced need for toner cartridges andlaser printer consumables and maintenance. Also, signs will be cut byhigh-volume accurate cutters, as opposed to less accurate local cut ortear systems now used at many retail outlets. Also, signs will beshipped in “plan-o-gram” order according to the layout of a particularstore, promoting efficient installation, less wasted manual time, andimproved accuracy of sign postings.

Modification

A price information tag 200 (also called a “price tag”) (FIGS. 14-16A)includes a body 201 made from a sheet of material similar to that of tag15 (FIG. 8-9), and is printed and die cut similar to the processes notedabove for tags 15. Price tag 200 improves on tag 15 and provides yetadditional attachment structure. The illustrated bottom barbs 202 arecut into the body 201 and are formed from a continuous wavy slit to havethree spaced-apart downwardly-extending barbs 202. Each barb 202 has ashort flat bottom edge which tends to better hold its shape andretaining qualities better than a pointed barb. A length of the flatbottom edge can be varied, depending on the durability needed anddepending on the material of body 201 used. A score 203 (or slit) is cutabout half way into the material at a location about ⅛^(th) to 3/16 inchdown from a top of the body 201, and more preferably about 5/32 inchdown from the top of the body 201, leaving a thin section of material203A forming a living hinge. Notably, it is contemplated that a slightfold will also work, or a dashed cut line. This creates a topcounter-engaging attachment flange 204 that can be folded, asillustrated in FIGS. 16-16A. The attachment flange 204 is particularlywell adapted for positive and secure attachment to the prior art holder150 illustrated in FIG. 18, as discussed below and shown in FIG. 19. Adiscussion of the prior art holder 150 is found earlier in thisdisclosure.

The price tag 200 (FIG. 19) can be upwardly inserted into the frontthroat 158A with a quick upward movement of the price tag 200. When thusinserted, the folded attachment flange 204 snaps into engagement withthe inner flange 160 and holds the price tag 200 very securely and alsosquarely in position in the holder 150 on the store shelf. A reason forthe sureness of engagement by the attachment flange 204 is because theintegral hinge material 203A of body 201 (i.e., that part not cut byslit 203) remains sufficient to bias the attachment flange 204 outwardlyaway from the body 201 at a reverse angle, such that it effectivelylocks the price tag 200 in a secured position. The folded attachmentflange 204 is short enough to easily snap over the holder's flange 162,but long enough such that it prevents the price tag 200 from moving toan angled position (which has a poor appearance on a store shelf . . .and which is a precursor to the price tag simply falling out). At thesame time, the price tag 200 can be pulled out of holder 150 by a simpledownward pull. This is because the attachment flange 204, when pulledwith a conscious “tug,” causes the tag 200 to bend and flex enough to“let go” without damaging or destroying the flanges 160, 161, or ridge162 of the holder 150, and without leaving remnants of the price tag 200in the retention area on the holder 150. As a result, the retention ofthe price tag 200 is positive and secure, but releasable. Notably, anyof the additional attachment structures shown in FIG. 13 can also beused on the price tag 200.

A price information tag 250 (FIGS. 20-21) includes a body 251 made froma sheet of material similar to that of tag 15 (FIGS. 8-9) and tag 200(FIGS. 14-17), and is printed and die cut similar to the processes notedabove for tags 15. For example, the body 251 can be a paper of 80# or100# weight. The body 251 of tag 250 has a window 252 cut therein, asdefined by perimeter material 253. The perimeter material 253 caninclude a bendable attachment flange 254 similar to the attachmentflange 204 if desired. In a preferred form, a clear plastic sheet 255 isattached to a back side of the body 251 covering the window 252. Asimilar clear plastic sheet can also be attached to a front of the body251 if desired so as to provide a smoother front region around thewindow 252. It is contemplated that a clear double-sided tape can alsobe adhered or laminated to a back of the clear plastic sheet 255, orthat a one-sided clear tape (not shown) can be secured to the body 251in place of the plastic sheet 255, with the tape's adhesive facingrearward (such as if a sticky second attachment structure for adheringto a shelf front is desired on the price tag). As shown in FIG. 22 (andFIG. 22A), this allows the price information tag 250 to be attached tothe holder 150, but allows the base tag 156 to continue to be visiblethrough the window 252. It is noted that the window-type priceinformation tag 250 provides a significant cost advantage over otherwindow-type tags, because the price information tag 250 is primarily alower-cost paper (or stiff plastic film), while the more expensive clearplastic with adhesive extends only a length of the window area on theprice tag 250. This is seen to be a great price advantage, when oneconsiders that literally millions of these window-type price tags areused each year.

The window price information tag 250 con also be used on a moretraditional price holder channel 11 on a shelf 10, as shown in FIGS.23-24. The channel 11 is C-shaped, and includes top and bottom lips forengaging top and bottom edges of a “main” price information tag 156. Thewindow 252 of tag 250 (with or without clear panel 255) allows the mainprice tag 156 to be seen, yet displays information printed on its body251, such as for indicating in-store specials. The tag 250 includes atop edge for engaging the top lip of channel 11, and includes bottombarbs 202 for engaging the bottom lip of channel 11 in a positionoverlaying the main price information tag 156.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

1. A price information tag configured for attachment to a tag holder ona store shelf, the tag holder including opposing members defining africtional retention area and a throat leading to the frictionalretention area and further defining a space behind the frictionalretention area, comprising: a tag body formed from a flat sheet ofmaterial with price information printed thereon relevant to a productfor sale; and a folded flange along a top of the sheet that is doubledback onto the sheet and adapted to create secure attachment when thefolded flange and the top of the tag body is slipped into the throatinto the frictional retention area, with the folded flange having aportion extending reversely into the space behind the frictionalretention area.
 2. The price information tag defined in claim 1, whereinthe tag body includes a weakened line at a base of the folded flange tofacilitate folding the folded flange.
 3. The price information tagdefined in claim 2, wherein the weakened line includes a score line. 4.The price information tag defined in claim 1, wherein the tag bodyincludes a window formed therein, and a transparent sheet appliedcovering the window.
 5. The price information tag defined in claim 1,wherein the tag body includes tabs extending downwardly for engaging aridge on the tag holder on the store shelf.
 6. The price information tagdefined in claim 5, wherein the tabs define at least two pointedstructures for engaging a channel the holder.
 7. The price informationtag defined in claim 5, wherein the tag body includes adhesive foradhering attachment to the shelf.
 8. A price information tag configuredfor attachment to a tag holder on a store shelf, the tag holderincluding a place for receiving and supporting a main price tag andfurther including a transparent front panel for viewing informationprinted on the main price tag, and further including opposing members ata top of the transparent front panel that define a frictional retentionarea and a throat leading to the frictional retention area and a spacebeyond the frictional retention area, comprising: a tag body formed froma flat sheet of material with price information printed thereon relevantto a product for sale, a top of the tag body including marginal materialdefining an open window area; and a clear plastic panel attached to thetag body and covering the open window area but substantially limited tothe open window area and the marginal material, so that when the tagbody is attached to the holder, the price information printed on the tagbody is visible but also the price information on the main price tagremains visible.
 9. The price information tag defined in claim 8,wherein the tag body further includes a folded attachment flange. 10.The price information tag defined in claim 8, wherein the tag bodyfurther includes downwardly extending tabs.
 11. A price information tagsystem for attachment to a shelf-attached channel with upper and loweredges, comprising: a tag sheet with printed information and indiciathereon; a clear plastic sheet having a transparency for seeingtherethrough; and at least one of the tag sheet and clear plastic sheethaving upper and lower barbs for retainingly engaging the upper andlower edges of the channel for holding the tag sheet and the clearplastic sheet together on the channel in overlaid positions.
 12. A priceinformation tag system for attachment to a shelf, comprising: ashelf-attached channel with upper and lower edges; a first price tagpositioned in the channel and engaging at least the upper edges of thechannel, the first price tag having printed information and indiciathereon; and a second tag includes a transparent sheet, the second tagalso engaging at least the upper edge of the channel and positioned overthe first price tag with the information and indicia being visiblethrough the transparent sheet of the second tag.